CHAPTER SIX SALMON FISHING 



DURING the spring andsummer it isan amus- 

 ing sight to watch the salmon making their 

 way up the river. Every high tide brings up 

 a number of these fish, whose whole object 

 seems to be to ascend the stream. At the shallow fords, 

 where the river spreading over a wide surface has but a 

 small depth of water, they are frequently obliged to swim, 

 or rather wade (if such an expression can be used), for per- 

 haps twenty yards in water of two inches in depth, which 

 leaves more than half the fish exposed to view. On they 

 go, however, scrambling up the fords, and making the 

 water fly to the right and left, like ducks at play. When the 

 fish are numerous, I sometimes see a dozen or more at 

 once. They might be killed in these places by spears, or 

 even a stick, and indeed many a salmon does come to his 

 death in this way. The fishermen (when the river is low) 

 save a great deal of useless fatigue, and of injury to their 

 nets, by working in some pool immediately above a shal- 

 low place, where they station one of their number, who 

 watches for the fish ascending, giving a signal to his com- 

 panions whenever he sees one. They then immediately 

 put out their nets, and are nearly sure to catch the salmon. 

 In this way very few of the fish can escape as long as the 

 water is low, but when a slight flood comes they can get 

 up unperceived. It is as easy to see them in the night time 

 as in the day, the water glancing and shining as they 

 struggle up. Indeed on the darkest night the noise they 

 make is easily heard, and distinguished by the accustomed 

 ear of the fishermen. 



There is something wild and interesting in listening 

 8i F 



